The Bible and Prophecy, Part II

Israel in Prophecy

It is often argued that the futurist view of prophecy is a modern view, therefore it has less merit. This is partially true. Even though we can find 1^st and 2^nd century writings that agree with the futurist view point, it was not the focal point during the Reformation Period and did not regain popularity until the last 100 years. It is also pointed out that the great theologians in the Reformation Period in the church rarely address prophecy and this is assumed to be in agreement with the Preterist view which believes all prophecy has already been fulfilled. It is true that Reformation theologians did not write extensively on prophecy; however, if we look at the focus of the reformers we can see why prophecy had such a low priority. Why were they called reformers? The church was split because the reformers were looking at the church of the day and the church of scripture and the two did not agree. The focus of the Reformation was to straighten out doctrinal differences. Martin Luther was excommunicated because of his famous stance in 1517 when he nailed his 95 thesis on the church door Wittenburg. When he opposed these 95 errors he saw in the church, he created a firestorm. When debating the church leaders, he pointed at scripture and stated, “Here I stand, I can do no other”. Church traditions had replaced scriptural doctrine. When the two disagreed, the church of the day would not budge from tradition. In protest to these violations of scripture, the Protestant movement was born.

The focuses of the Reformers were on the doctrines of the church and the doctrines that applied to salvation and Christian living. Understanding prophecy took a back seat and rightfully so. If the church has confusion within its doctrine, all other issues, including prophecy, are meaningless. After the foundational doctrinal issues had been hashed out, we then see doctrines concerning prophecy beginning to reemerge. After the turn of the 20^th century, modern technology and the First World War began to shed light on prophecy. The book of Revelation speaks of world conflicts, but until WWI this was unheard of.

Is it surprising that the Reformers did not put a lot of effort toward understanding prophecy? Why or why not?

Does this lack of focus mean that they did not count prophecy as valid for the future?

Why would the turn of the 20^th century bring about so much interest in prophecy?

We also should remember that Israel was no longer on the scene. Sixty years ago, when someone looked at prophecy and saw Israel mentioned, it never quite fit. Church leaders tried to fit the church into Israel’s roles. The problem with this is that many, many scriptures have to be explained away in order to rationalize this view. Whenever Israel is mentioned by name, many people claimed that it was symbolic of the church. Some teachers went out on a limb and actually claimed that Israel was Israel and not the church. Sixty years ago, this seemed to be an impossible idea. How could a nation destroyed and scattered 2,000 years ago revive and return to their homeland? How could a people who were hated by the world and had no political clout possibly gain the power to reclaim their land? It was a preposterous idea. Yet theologians like H. A. Ironside claimed that this would happen. Ironside looked at the scriptures and stated that the only way prophecy could be fulfilled is that Israel must return to their homeland. If the Bible is true, he claimed that Israel must become a nation again. He made these claims in the 1919 and published his lectures in 1930.

Why do people search for ‘alternative interpretations’ of scripture when the Bible puts itself out on a limb (such as Israel’s rebirth or theistic evolution)?

When the evidence catches up to Scripture, why do many people cling to incorrect views in spite of the evidence?

Ironside was not alone in his belief that Israel would be restored. Here are other quotes:

"The postmillenarian assumption, that Israel is nationally cast away forever, that God has no national future for Israel restored, and that Israel is now the 'Church,' is the one fundamental and false postulate that blinds so many to the true interpretation..."

Nathaniel West in 1889

"About the time of the fall of the Othman empire and of the Christian Antichrist, the Jews shall turn to the Lord, and be restored to their own land. Innumerable are the prophecies concerning the conversion and restoration of this people."

Thomas Newton in 1760

Till the Jew is brought back to his own land, and the temple and its sacrifices are restored, the prophetic part of the Apocalypse does not begin." Robert Govett in 1861

'By many, and even by the most recent commentator, Dusterdieck, these sealed ones are taken to represent Jewish believers; the chosen out of the actual children of Israel.' Among these we may note Irenaeus, Bullinger, Grotius, Bossuet, Bengel, Eichorn, Heinrichs, Maitland, Zullig, Hoffman, B.W. Newton, Kelly, 'Matheetees,' and others...What, then, is the implication, but that when this period is once reached, Jerusalem will have been largely repopulated by the children of its ancient inhabitants, its temple rebuilt, and its ancient worship restored Joseph Seiss 1865

"In Scripture the glory and resurrection of the Church of the firstborn ones is always connected with the time when Israel (who will have returned to their own land in unbelief) 'shall know the Lord.'" George Muller in 1875

"The 144,000 must be literal Israelites. From other Scriptures we learned their return to the Land...They arrive in unbelief (Ezek.37:7,8)...Israel means Israel, unless expressly stated otherwise." William Frederick Roadhouse in 1932

"The language therefore relating to Israel's gathering we treat as literally as that relating to the scattering...Will the elect nation of Israel ever return to the land of the fathers? Many Christians say, No; many other Christians say, Yes....The scattering was of the national Israel; shall not the gathering be the national Israel also?"

John Wilkinson in 1889

“A future restoration awaits this people [the Jews], and will be to the world a glorious demonstration of the truth of prophecy...” Samuel Wakefield in 1869

Who shows more faith in God, those who believe God’s word without compromise or those who look for ‘alternative interpretations’?

As we can see, even though allegorizing Israel in prophecy was the common doctrine of the day, many preachers of the Word took scriptural literally because it was stated literally. Samuel Wakefield’s claim that the rebirth of Israel would be a glorious demonstration of the truth of prophecy was well stated. In 1948, those who believed God’s word were proven to be the true prophets. Even so, it is still commonly taught that God has cast Israel aside because of their rejection of Christ. They forget that both the Jews and the Gentiles worked jointly to crucify Jesus Christ. This was no coincidence. Jesus died at the hand of sinners – all sinners. No man is innocent because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. The same Cross of Christ that bought our redemption also pays the redemption of the Jews who receive it. Some will receive it now and be a part of the church; some will receive it when Jesus returns. In this section we will look at what the scriptures say about God’s plan for the Jews.

Who crucified Jesus, the Jews or the Gentiles?

Has God Rejected Israel?

God never rejected Israel, they rejected God. Romans 11:1 answers this question specifically:

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

This entire chapter of Romans 11 deals with the question about Israel’s future. God called Israel to be a light to the Gentiles. Romans 11:29 tells us that the calling of God is irrevocable. Israel cannot revoke God’s mercy and His call to them as a nation. As we get into this portion of our prophecy study, let’s begin by examining the foundation laid by scripture concerning Israel’s separation from God’s plan. Look again at Romans 11:

 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."

 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,

 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

According to verse 25, how long will Israel be blinded?

According to verse 26, what will happen to Israel after the fullness of the Gentiles has come?

According to verse 28, why are they beloved?

According to verse 29, does sin void the gift of God’s grace?

The first point to note is found in verse 25. Israel has been blinded “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”. The Bible clearly states that Israel is not blinded forever, but until a specific point in time. In unmistakable terms, the Bible tells us the mystery of His plan for Israel. The reason is “that you should not be ignorant”. The Bible declares that all of Israel will be saved and their deliverer (Jesus Christ) will turn away their ungodliness. What ‘all of Israel’ means is yet to be fully revealed. We know that no one can be saved outside of repentance and receiving forgiveness through Jesus Christ. All the details as to how God will execute this promise have not been given. Based on other passages we will soon study, I believe this refers to those who are alive when He returns. This passage in Romans even explains why God blinded the nation. God committed them all to disobedience so He might have mercy on all. Why does God’s plan give all of Israel mercy? Romans 11 also states:

34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"

In other words, who can second guess God? We are not His counselors, He is ours. I had an atheist once say to me that God was wrong because He doesn’t do what makes sense to the atheist. Should we assume that God must be wrong because He does not do what we would do? Why shouldn’t we assume that we are wrong because we don’t act the way God does? The Bible says that God executes His purposes and no one can hinder Him and no one can say, “What are you doing?” (Daniel 4:35) God planned all things before the foundation of the world; therefore we can safely assume that His plan is perfect. We know by the testimony of scripture that God has not rejected Israel and has a plan for them. Now let’s look at what scripture has revealed about that plan. As we go through, it will become clear as to why so many teachers predicted Israel’s return and why others struggled to make sense of prophecy when they taught the Church was Israel.

Is Israel shown mercy because they are worthy, or because God is good?

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